PCHR
Palestinian Centre for Human Rights

Weekly Report: On Israeli Human Rights Violations in the Occupied Palestinian Territories

No. 09/2004

04 - 10 March 2004

Israeli Forces Continue to Perpetrate Violence in the OPTs

This week, Israeli occupying forces continued to violate the Palestinian civilians’ human rights in the Occupied Palestinian Territories (OPTs). Human rights violations included the use of extra-judicial assassinations and willful killings. Throughout the week, Israeli occupying forces also conducted incursions into Palestinian areas; shot at Palestinian civilians, including children; indiscriminately shelled residential areas and demolished houses; and leveled agricultural land. Israeli occupying forces also continued construction of the “separation wall” inside the West Bank and have continued to impose a tight siege on the OPTs. This week, 25 Palestinians, mostly civilians, were killed and more than 20 others injured by Israeli occupying forces. In addition, 2 children died from previous injuries.

This week, Israeli occupying forces conducted 6 military incursions into Palestinian areas in the Gaza Strip. An Israeli military attack in a Palestinian residential area in central Gaza Strip conducted on Sunday 7 March 2004, left 14 Palestinians dead, including four children, and more than 80 others wounded, including 26 children. Israeli occupying forces also demolished 20 houses and razed 22 donums of agricultural land in Rafah.

In the West Bank, Israeli occupying forces conducted a series of military incursions into Palestinian areas. These incursions left 4 Palestinian civilians dead. Israeli forces also arrested dozens of Palestinians, including 8 children and one woman. Israeli forces destroyed a house in ‘Anza village in Jenin, claiming they found mortar shells inside it.

In a continuation of the policy of extra-judicial assassinations officially adopted by the Israeli government, on Wednesday afternoon, 10 March 2004, an Israeli undercover unit assassinated 5 Palestinians in Jenin, including 4 members of al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigade, the military wing of Fatah movement.

Israeli settlers continued to attack Palestinian civilians and property, and this week razed areas of Palestinian land to expand existing settlements. A Palestinian child from Jerusalem died from a previous injury sustained when an Israeli settler car ran over him.

Israeli occupying forces continued construction of the “Separation Wall” inside the West Bank, and razed more areas of Palestinian agricultural land for the purpose of this construction. Israeli forces attacked Palestinian civilians, Israeli peace activists and international solidarity groups who demonstrated against this construction. A strict siege on al-Ramadin village, south of Hebron remained imposed for this purpose.

Israeli occupying forces continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, including Jerusalem.

In the Gaza Strip, these forces have continued to impose a tightened siege on the total area, and imposed more restrictions on movement at border crossings and military checkpoints. They have also maintained the closure of a number of main and branch roads in the Gaza Strip by Israeli soldiers stationed at Israeli military checkpoints. Such restrictions on freedom of movement are in contravention of international human rights law to which Israel is a state party, including the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights.

In the West Bank, Israeli occupying forces have continued to impose a strict siege on Palestinian communities and imposed severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians. They have blocked a number of roads using cement blocks, sand barriers, and trenches. They have also erected temporary checkpoints and arrested a number of Palestinians. Israeli occupying forces claimed that they had dismantled a number of military checkpoints in the West Bank, but this has been proven to be untrue.

Shelling of, and Encroachment into Palestinian Areas and Attacks on Palestinian Civilians and Property

In another attack against Palestinian civilians and property, Israeli occupying forces moved into the southern Gaza Strip town of Rafah. They killed a Palestinian child, injured 5 civilians, and destroyed 13 houses and other civilian properties.

According to investigations conducted by PCHR, at approximately 02:00, Israeli occupying forces, reinforced by heavy military vehicles and helicopters, moved approximately 300m into Zo’rob neighborhood in the southwest of Rafah. Israeli heavy military vehicles destroyed the main road in the area and isolated the southwestern parts of Rafah from the rest of the town, then raided a number of houses and transformed their roofs into military sites. At approximately 10:00, some Palestinian children left their homes in Imam ‘Ali Street thinking that Israeli occupying forces had withdrawn from the area, and Israeli soldiers fired at the children with no warning. One of the children, Mohammed ‘Abed Hassan, 14, was killed by a live bullet in the chest. 3 other children were injured:

2. Mohammed Hassan Dehliz, 11, injured by shrapnel in the face and left shoulder; and

As a result of indiscriminate Israeli shelling of the area, which continued until 19:00, more were injured:

1. Mohammed Ahmed al-Hashash, 14, injured by a live bullet in the left forearm; and

2. Samah ‘Abdul Rahman Jarghoun, 19, injured by a live bullet in the right thigh.

An Palestine Red Crescent Society ambulance was hit by live bullets and 2 civilian cars were also destroyed. During this incursion, Israeli occupying forces completely destroyed one house and 13 others partially:

1. They completely destroyed a 180-square-meter, under-construction house owned by ‘Alaa’ Sabri Zo’rob;

2. Partially destroyed a 180-square-meter house owned by Bassem Sabri Zo’rob, in which one person lives;

3. Partially destroyed a 180-square-meter, 2-storey house owned by Maher Sabri Zo’rob, in which 23 people (3 families) live;

4. Partially destroyed a 150-square-meter house owned by Fatema Khalil Buraika, in which 5 people live;

5. Partially destroyed a 200-square-meter, 3-storey uninhabited house owned by Yousef Mohammed Hussein Zo’rob;

6. Partially destroyed a 360-square-meter, 3-storey house owned by Hassan Mohammed Zo’rob, in which 18 people (4 families) live;

7. Partially destroyed a 320-square-meter, 2-storey house owned by Ahmed Mohammed Zo’rob, in which 20 people (5 families) live;

8. Partially destroyed a 200-square-meter, 2-storey house owned by Mahmoud Rezeq Zo’rob, in which 30 people (5 families) live;

9. Partially destroyed a 225-square-meter house owned by Yousef Mohammed Zo’rob, in which 6 people live;

10. Partially destroyed a 300-square-meter, asbestos-roofed house owned by Mohammed Mousa Zo’rob, in which 25 people (4 families) live;

11. Partially destroyed an 800-square-meter house owned by Mahmoud Sa’id Zo’rob, in which 14 people (2 families) live;

12. Partially destroyed a 350-square-meter, 3-storey house owned by Salah Saleh Zo’rob, in which 40 people (5 families) live; and

13. Partially destroyed a 300-square-meter, 3-storey house owned by Ussama Salem Hijazi, in which 18 people (4 families) live.

1. They razed a 3-donum area of agricultural land planted with olives owned by Mousa ‘Ouda Hijazi;

2. Razed a 3-donum area of agricultural land planted with potatoes owned by Samir Mousa Hijazi; and

3. Razed a 1-donum area of agricultural land, on which a greenhouse planted with vegetables stood, owned by ‘Ouda ‘Abdullah Hijazi.

At approximately 02:00, Israeli occupying forces moved into Nablus and neighboring refugee camps and villages. They raided and searched a number of houses, a post of the Palestinian Military Intelligence and a police station, then arrested 5 Palestinians:

2. D’iab al-Najjar, 22, from Khan Yunis, who was arrested at the Palestinian Military Intelligence post;

Simultaneously, Israeli occupying forces moved into Tulkarm, raided a number of houses, and arrested 3 Palestinians:

At approximately 03:00, 15 Israeli military vehicles moved into Hebron through its northwestern entrance, invaded Hebron University campus, and opened fire in an apparent attempt to drive the guards away from the campus. Israeli soldiers then raided a number of departments and an exhibition of Palestinian culture organized by the university. According to university students, Israeli forces damaged the exhibition and confiscated some of its contents.

At approximately 04:00, Israeli occupying forces moved into al-Khader village, southwest of Bethlehem. They raided and searched a house belonging to the family of Ayman Darwish Salah, 25, and then arrested him.

At noon, Israeli occupying forces surrounded buildings of Palestinian security services in Hebron and photographed the buildings for no apparent reason.

At approximately 19:20, Israeli occupying forces positioned along the Egyptian border, south of Rafah, opened fire at Palestinian residential areas in the town. A Palestinian child, Ra’ed Nazmi Shafiq al-Mughari, 15, was seriously wounded by a live bullet that entered the right eye and exited the ear. According to his brother, the child was wounded while inside the family’s house in al-Junaina neighborhood, approximately 700m away from the source of fire.

At approximately 21:00, Israeli occupying forces, reinforced by heavy military vehicles, moved approximately 400m into Um al-Qurrais area in Um al-Nasser village, north of Rafah. While indiscriminately shelling the area, they razed areas of Palestinian agricultural land:

1. They razed a 10-donum area of agricultural land planted with fruits and vegetables and destroyed an irrigation network owned by the heirs of Mohammed Hamdan Abu Gharara; and

2. Razed a 5-donum area of agricultural land planted with palms and olives and destroyed an irrigation network and an agricultural pool owned by the heirs of ‘Abdullah Salim ‘Abdullah Abu Jazar.

At approximately 02:30, 10 Israeli military vehicles moved into Dura village, southwest of Hebron. Israeli soldiers raided and searched a number of houses and arrested 7 Palestinians:

At approximately 02:45, 10 Israeli military vehicles moved into Ethna village, south of Hebron. Israeli soldiers raided and searched a number of houses and arrested 5 Palestinians:

At approximately 03:00, 5 Israeli military vehicles moved into Tarqoumia village, south of Hebron. They raided and searched ‘Abdul Mo’ti Tannina’s house and arrested his son, Ayman, 19.

At the same time, Israeli occupying forces moved into Shuraim and Kufor Saba neighborhoods in Qalqilya. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested 4 Palestinians:

At approximately 15:00, 10 Israeli military jeeps moved into Ramallah and al-Bireh towards the Palestinian presidential compound in Ramallah, and took position at the entrance to the compound while closing all roads leading to it. Israeli soldiers proceeded to check all entering and exiting the compound, and beat a number of members of the Palestinian National Security Force who were on their way to their work at the compound. This Israeli military siege continued until Saturday night, 6 March 2004. No arrests were reported.

At approximately 17:00, 3 Israeli military jeeps moved into Jaba' village, south of Jenin. Israeli soldiers opened fire at Palestinian houses. A Palestinian child, 'Abdullah Fawzi 'Abdullah Ghannam, 10, was seriously wounded by a live bullet in the head, while he was near his family's house. No clashes were reported when the child was wounded.

At approximately 03:30, Israeli occupying forces moved into Bethlehem and the neighboring al-Duha village and al-Duhaisha refugee camp. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested 5 Palestinians:

At approximately 04:00, 5 Israeli military jeeps moved into Balata refugee camp, east of Nablus. The raided and searched Sa'id Abu Theraa's house and arrested his daughter, Amira, 19.

In the early morning, Israeli occupying forces shot dead a member of the Palestinian National Security Force in Tulkarm. Israeli soldiers fired at the victim after injuring him and from a distance of one meter only. According to an eyewitness, the victim was in possession of his gun, but did not use it against Israeli soldiers. The victim was not wanted by Israeli occupying authorities.

According to investigations conducted by PCHR, at approximately 06:15, while Tha'er Suleiman Abu Sirriya, 19, a member of the Palestinian National Security Force from Tulkarm refugee camp, was walking with one of his colleagues on a branch road leading to the central market of Tulkarm, an Israeli military jeep surprised them from the other direction of the road. When they tried to return to a site of the Palestinian National Security Force, Israeli soldiers immediately opened fire at them. After wounding Sirriya with a live bullet, an Israeli soldier got out of the jeep moving towards him and shot him dead. Israeli soldiers then threw a smoke bomb in the area and withdrew. At approximately 06:45, the victim's body was removed to Dr. Thabet Hospital in Tulkarm. According to medical sources, the victim was hit with several live bullets to the right thigh, left knee, abdomen and head.

At approximately 21:30, Israeli soldiers on tanks positioned at the Egyptian border, south of Rafah, opened fire at Palestinian houses in al-Salam neighborhood. A Palestinian civilian, Mohammed Fathi D'ib, 25, was injured by shrapnel in the left hand.

In the early morning, 9 Israeli military jeeps moved into 'Anza village, south of Jenin. They surrounded an 80-square-meter, 2-storey uninhabited house owned by Jawdat Rashed 'Obaid. They also raided a neighboring house and held its owner, Dirar Saleh Khader, 35. Israeli soldiers planted explosives inside the uninhabited house and destroyed it, then released Khader and withdrew from the village. Israeli occupying forces claimed that they had found mortar shells inside the destroyed house. According to residents of the village, the explosion that occurred in the house was light, which indicates that there were no shells inside the house.

At approximately 01:30, Israeli occupying forces moved at least 2000m northwest into the northern Gaza Strip town of Beit Hanoun. They moved near a site of the Palestinian National Security Force and fired at the site, after realizing that their presence was discovered. A member of the force, Munther Ziara, 28, from Gaza city, was wounded by a live bullet in the right foot. Israeli forces then withdrew from the area.

At approximately 02:30, 6 Israeli military jeeps moved into Sa'ir village, north of Hebron. Israeli forces raided and searched a house belonging to the family of 'Abdul Fattah Jamal al-Jabarin, 32. They forced the family out, damaged contents of the house, then arrested al-Jabarin.

An Israeli military attack in a Palestinian residential area in the central Gaza Strip conducted on Sunday 7 March 2004, left 14 Palestinians dead, including four children, and more than 80 others wounded, including 26 children.

According to investigations conducted by PCHR, at around 03:00, Israeli forces, including heavy military vehicles and aircraft, moved from the Netzarim settlement, southwards along Salah al Din Street to a point between Al-Nusseirat and Al-Bureij refugee camps. Troops then moved from Salah Al Din Street west into Al-Nusseirat camp. Israeli forces raided three civilian residential buildings owned by the Quweider, Aaliyan and Ghazal families. Soldiers detained the residents inside the buildings. One resident, Majed Ibrahim Aaliyan, 30, was forced to walk in front of soldiers as they searched the three buildings. Soldiers set up sniper positions on the top floors of the properties. At approximately 6am, more Israeli troops entered the camp. During the incursion, Israeli troops opened fire randomly into the streets of the camp, including from the positions taken in the three houses. Eyewitnesses reported that Israeli helicopters flying overhead also opened fire in the area.

Four children were killed by Israeli gunfire and more than 80 civilians were injured, 26 of them children. Ten of the injured remain in a serious condition.

Israeli troops withdrew at approximately 09:30. During the incursion, Israeli troops engaged in armed clashes with Palestinian resistance groups. During these clashes, 10 members of the Palestinian resistance were killed. Members of the resistance killed in this incursion were reported as Mohammed Ismail al Shatali, 21; Shadi Abed As-Saidni, 21; Faris Fatehi al Hawajri, 25; Omar Mohammed al Jamal, 18; Hazem Rauhi Aqel, 20; Ahmed Hassan Harb, 22; Khaled Qassem al Hazqi, 23; Moussa Manar Hemo, 25; Yousef Mahmoud As-Sinwar, 26; Hassan Ahmed Zuhud, 42.

Also at approximately 03:00, 7 Israeli military jeeps moved into Halhoul village, north of Hebron. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested 2 Palestinians:

At approximately 04:00, Israeli occupying forces moved into Bethlehem. They surrounded Ahmed Khulaif's house in al-Khulaifat neighborhood and forced the family out. Israeli soldiers raided and searched the house then arrested the owner's son, Haitham, 17.

At approximately 15:30, an infantry unit of Israeli occupying forces moved approximately 150m into al-Qarara village, north of Khan Yunis. Israeli soldiers raided and searched a number of houses belonging to the families of Abu Sabet an Abu 'Aamer. This Israeli military operation continued for 4 hours.

At approximately 23:30, Israeli soldiers positioned in a military location near "Netzer Hazani" settlement, northwest of Khan Yunis, opened fire at Palestinian houses to the east. A Palestinian woman, Fairouz Ramadan al-Saqqa, 37, was wounded by a live bullet in the pelvis, while she was inside her house in al-Qarara village, approximately 1500m away from the source of fire.

At approximately 03:30, Israeli occupying forces moved into Jenin. They opened fire at Palestinian houses. Israeli soldiers raided and searched a number of houses and arrested Zafer Abu Sakha, 30.

At approximately 04:30, Israeli occupying forces moved into Bethlehem. They raided and searched a house belonging to the family of 'Omar Habib, 18, and arrested him.

At approximately 09:30, an Israeli tank was positioned on a settler road linking "Morag" settlement and "Gush Qatif" settlement bloc, south west of Khan Yunis. Israeli soldiers on the tank opened fire at a number of Palestinian farmers who were working on their agricultural land to the north. A Palestinian child, Khaled Suleiman Mohammed Madi, 16, was instantly killed by several live bullets in the head, abdomen, and limbs. The child and his brothers were helping their father establish an irrigation network for their agricultural land, approximately 1km away from the tank.

On Monday morning, Israeli occupying forces moved into al-Qarara village, north of Khan Yunis, then raided and searched a number of houses belonging to the families of Abu Sabet and Abu ‘Aamer. Two hours later, Israeli forces ordered residents of 5 homes belonging to the Abu ‘Aamer family to vacate their homes in half an hour, and gave warning of firing at any person coming within the vicinity of the homes, which would be eventually demolished.

On behalf of the owners of the five houses, PCHR submitted an appeal to the Israeli High Court requesting termination of the demolition order. The court issued a temporary injunction halting the demolition and gave the Israeli prosecutor 24 hours to respond.

1. A 180-square-meter house owned by 'Abdul Rahman Hassan Abu 'Aamer, in which 7 people live;

2. A 120-square-meter house owned by 'Awni 'Abdul Rahman Hassan Abu 'Aamer, in which 8 people live;

3. A 120-square-meter house owned by 'Essam 'Abdul Rahman Hassan Abu 'Aamer, in which 11 people live;

4. A 180-square-meter house owned by Marwan 'Abdul Rahman Hassan Abu 'Aamer, in which 8 people live; and

5. A 160-square-meter house owned by Ibrahim 'Abdul Rahman Hassan Abu 'Aamer, in which 8 people live.

At approximately 16:00, Israeli occupying forces positioned in military locations near "Neve Dekalim" settlement, west of Khan Yunis, opened fire at Palestinian civilians who were participating in the funeral procession of Khaled Madi, who had been killed by Israeli forces in the morning. A child, Nidal Khalil al-Sha'er, 14, was wounded by a live bullet in the left hand.

At approximately 17:00, 9 Israeli military vehicles moved into al-Duha village near Bethlehem. They surrounded a house belonging to the family of Ahmed al-'Azza, 27. Israeli soldiers called on him to get out of the house and he did. Then, Israeli soldiers raided and searched the house and arrested him.

In the evening, Israeli occupying forces shot dead a Palestinian civilian and injured 3 others in Salfit village, south of Nablus. They also arrested one of the injured and 3 other Palestinians.

According to investigations conducted by PCHR, at approximately 19:30, an undercover unit of Israeli occupying forces traveling in 3 civilian cars that had Palestinian registrations moved into Salfit village, south of Nablus. A few minutes later, 8 Israeli military jeeps moved into the village to reinforce the undercover unit. The undercover unit moved towards the center of the village. Members of the unit got out of cars and opened fire at Palestinian civilians. One of these civilians, Khaled Taha 'Abdul Hafez Madi, 34, was seriously wounded by several live bullets. According to eyewitnesses, Madi was on his way back home carrying his 3-year-old child. After he had been wounded, he continued to walk towards his home and fell onto the ground in front of its door. He was taken in an ambulance to a hospital, but died on the way to the hospital. According to medical sources, he was hit by 3 live bullets to the abdomen. Also as a result of the Israeli gunfire, 3 Palestinians were wounded:

1. Yousef 'Abdul Jawad al-Ber, 28, a member of the Palestinian General Intelligence, wounded by several live bullets throughout the body then arrested by Israeli soldiers;

2. Ahmed Jamal Farid Yassin, 14, wounded by a live bullet in the right thigh; and

3. Mohammed Hussein 'Eid Haniya, 23, a member of the Palestinian National Security Force, wounded by a live bullet in the right thigh.

At approximately 21:00, Israeli occupying forces positioned in military locations near "Neve Dekalim" settlement, west of Khan Yunis, opened fire at Palestinian houses in the cemeteries and Baten al-Samin areas. A Palestinian civilian, Tamer Mahmoud Buraika, 22, was injured by shrapnel from a live bullet in the face.

At approximately 02:40, Israeli occupying forces positioned in military locations in the vicinity of the "Gush Qatif"s settlement bloc, north and west of Rafah, opened fire at Palestinian houses in Tal al-Sultan neighborhood in the west of the town. A Palestinian civilian, Nidal 'Atallah Hamad, 30, was wounded by a live bullet in the right foot.

At approximately 03:30, 5 Israeli military jeeps moved into Bazaria village, northwest of Nablus. They raided a number of houses and forced their residents out. Israeli soldiers severely beat 'Ezzat Amin 'Ali, 28, injuring him throughout the body. Israeli soldiers also arrested 3 Palestinians:

At approximately 04:00, Israeli occupying forces moved into Beit Ummar village, north of Hebron. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested 3 Palestinians:

At the same time, Israeli occupying forces moved into Sourif village, northwest of Hebron. They raided and searched Mohammed Amin Ghunaimat's house and arrested his son, 'Ali, 22.

At approximately 04:15, a number of Israeli military jeeps moved into 'Asala village, southeast of Qalqilya, and imposed a curfew. They raided a smith workshops owned by Bassam Daoud Suleiman, 45, confiscated its contents, and arrested Suleiman. They also arrested Ghaleb Shehada Radi, 36.

At approximately 04:30, 7 Israeli military jeeps moved into Bieta village, south of Nablus, and imposed a curfew. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested 4 Palestinians:

At approximately 09:00, 3 Israeli military jeeps moved into Qarawat Bani Zaid village, northwest of Ramallah. They fired live ammunition and tear gas canisters at Palestinian houses. A number of school children gathered and threw stones at the jeeps. Immediately, Israeli soldiers fired at the children, wounding 2:

1. Mohammed 'Eissa 'Arar, 14, wounded by 2 rubber-coated metal bullets in the hand the face; and

At approximately 11:30, 30 Israeli military vehicles, supported by 2 helicopters, moved into Jenin, opened fire at Palestinian houses, and imposed a curfew. A Palestinian woman, Dalal Maujahed Mohammed Abu al-Hassan, 22, was killed by 2 live bullets in the back. In addition, Saif al-Din Shawqi al-Dahla, 35, a cameraman of France Press Agency, was wounded by a live bullet in the left leg, the third time al-Dahla was wounded by the Israeli gunfire since the beginning of the current Intifada. Also during this Israeli military incursion, 3 Palestinian civilians were wounded:

1. Fadi Mohammed Sadiq Yassin, 23, seriously wounded by a live bullet in the head, and pronounced dead in the evening;

3. Haitham Murad Yasser Furaihat, 11, wounded by shrapnel in the chest and the upper limbs.

At approximately 14:00, Israeli occupying forces positioned in military locations to the west of Khan Yunis opened fire at Palestinian houses in Khan Yunis refugee camp. A Palestinian civilian, Zakaria Sa'id Radi, 54, was injured by shrapnel in the left shoulder.

At noon, Israeli occupying forces arrested Khalil 'Ali Edris, 36, from al-Amari refugee camp, in al-Bireh. According to eyewitnesses, Israeli occupying forces moved into the south of al-Bireh and erected a checkpoint on Ramallah-Jerusalem road. Israeli soldiers then stopped a civilian car and forced the driver out of the car on gunpoint, then beat and arrested him. The driver was identified as Khalil Edris, the brother of the deceased Wafa' Edris who carried out a bombing in Jerusalem in 2002. Israeli soldiers also severely beat Jamil Abu Mayala. He sustained bruises and fractures throughout the body.

At approximately 16:10, Israeli occupying forces positioned in military locations in the vicinity of "Gadid" and "Neve Dekalim" settlements, west of Khan Yunis, opened fire at Palestinian houses in the cemeteries and Baten al-Samin areas to the east. A Palestinian civilian, Musleh Kamel Zo'rob, 31, was wounded by a live bullet in the left hand, while he was walking in the street, approximately 800m away form the source of fire.

In the evening, a number of Israeli military jeeps moved into Housan village, west of Bethlehem, and imposed a curfew. Israeli occupying forces had earlier imposed a curfew on the village for 10 consecutive days, before it had lifted it for only 3 days.

At approximately 21:00, Israeli occupying forces positioned in military locations between "Gani Tal" and "Neve Dekalim" settlements, northwest and west of Khan Yunis respectively, opened fire at Palestinian houses to the east. A Palestinian woman, Sanaa' Ahmed al-Batta, 36, was injured by shrapnel from a live bullet in the face, while she was inside her house in the center of Khan Yunis, approximately 2km away from the source of fire.

Late at night, Israeli occupying forces moved into al-Duhaisha refugee camp near Bethlehem. They raided and searched a house belonging to the family of Ahmed 'Abbas, 30, and arrested him.

At the same time, 6 Israeli military jeeps moved into Kufor al-Dik village, southeast of Qalqilya. They opened fire at Palestinian houses. A Palestinian civilian, Mohammed Ahmed 'Omar Fassoul, 45, was wounded by 2 live bullets in both shoulders.

At approximately 02:30, Israeli occupying forces moved into Nablus and Balata refugee camp. They arrested 4 Palestinians, including a child:

At the same time, Israeli occupying forces moved into Beit Fourik village, east of Nablus. They raided and searched 2 houses and arrested 2 Palestinian children:

At approximately 03:00, an undercover unit of Israeli occupying forces moved into Tulkarm refugee camp. A few minutes later, more Israeli forces moved into the camp to reinforce the undercover unit. They arrested 4 Palestinians, including 3 children:

At the same time, 3 Israeli military jeeps moved into Sirris village, south of Jenin. They raided and searched 2 houses and arrested 2 Palestinians:

At approximately 07:30, Israeli occupying forces, reinforced by heavy military vehicles, including a bulldozer, moved approximately 200m into al-Brazil neighborhood in Rafah, adjacent to the Egyptian border. They opened fire at Palestinian houses. A Palestinian woman, Rabab Hassan al-‘Owaisi, 24, was injured in the abdomen. During this 9-hour incursion, Israeli occupying forces demolished one house completely and 6 others partially:

1. They completely demolished a 300-square-meter, asbestos-roofed house owned by Khalil Mohammed Abu Samak, in which 14 people (4 families) lived;

2. Partially demolished a 200-square-meter, asbestos-roofed house owned by Nazmi ‘Ayada al-Akhras, in which 11 people live;

3. Partially demolished an 80-square-meter, asbestos-roofed house owned by ‘Abdullah Saleh al-Lahwani, in which 12 people live;

4. Partially demolished an 80-square-meter, asbestos-roofed house owned by Khader Mohammed al-Lahwani, in which 7 people live;

5. Partially demolished an 80-square-meter, asbestos-roofed house owned by Mansour Saleh al-Lahwani, in which 10 people live;

6. Partially demolished an 80-square-meter, asbestos-roofed house owned by Kayed Saleh al-Lahwani, in which 11 people live; and

7. Partially demolished an 80-square-meter, under-construction house owned by Ya’qoub Shaker al-Hour.

At approximately 11:30, Israeli occupying forces positioned along the eastern border of the Gaza Strip, east of Gaza city, opened fire at Palestinian houses in al-Shojaeya neighborhood. A Palestinian child, Mohammed Maher Yassin, 13, was wounded by a live bullet in the left shoulder.

In the evening, Israeli occupying forces shot dead a Palestinian child in al-‘Arroub refugee camp, north of Hebron. They claimed that a Molotov cocktail was thrown by him at Israeli military units near the camp, therefore Israeli soldiers fired him. PCHR’s investigations and eyewitnesses’ testimonies refuted this claim.

According to investigations conducted by PCHR, at approximately 20:30, 15-year-old Tha’er Mohammed Haroun al-Halaiqa, from Shioukh al-‘Arroub village, north of Hebron, was on his back to his village south of al-‘Arroub refugee camp. While walking at the northern entrance to the camp, Israeli soldiers patrolling inside the camp opened fire at him from a close distance from behind and hit him by a number of live bullets. He fell onto the ground. Residents of the camp hurried towards the child to offer him help, but an Israeli soldier moved towards him and opened fire at him from a distance of 6 meters only. He died on the way to the hospital. According to medical sources, the child was hit by 15 live bullets throughout the body.

In a continuation of the policy of extra-judicial assassinations officially adopted by the Israeli government, on Wednesday afternoon, 10 March 2004, and undercover unit of Israeli occupying forces assassinated 5 Palestinians in Jenin, including 4 members of al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigade, the military wing of Fatah movement.

According to investigations conducted by PCHR, at approximately 15:00, 5 Palestinians were traveling in a civilian car, black Toyota, to the east of Jenin. When they arrived at iron-made buildings in the area, they were surprised by the presence of two civilian cars, approximately 50m away from them. Immediately, armed persons inside the two cars opened fire at the 5 Palestinians, killing them instantly. The armed individuals held the body of one of the victims, but delivered it to a Palestinian ambulance half an hour later. The bodies of the five victims were removed to a hospital in Jenin. The victims were identified as:

On Friday morning, 5 March 2004, medical sources at Shifa Hospital in Gaza city declared that Mo'taz Nafez Hussein al-Shurafi, 10, from Jabalya, died from an injury he sustained on 28 February 2004.

According to PCHR's documentation, the child was injured by shrapnel throughout the body, when an Israeli helicopter gunship launched a missile at a civilian car, in which 3 activists of the Islamic Jihad were traveling, in Jabalya. The three activists were killed and 11 civilian bystanders were injured, including the aforementioned child.